Closure for steam-drums.



PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

1?. SBEBEOKi CLOSURE FOR STEAM DRUMS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1907.

' PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907. F. EGK. CLOSURE F EAM DRUMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1907.

8 SHEETS SHEET 2.

PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907. F. SEEBBGK. CLOSURE FOR STEAM DRUMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 5. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q'Vilneaaey FRIEDRICH SEEBEGK, OF GEESTEMIINDE, GERMANY.

CLOSURE FOR STEAM-DRUMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed February 5, 1907. Serial No. 355,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH SEEBECK, manufacturer, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at No. 34 Schulzstrasse, Geestemiinde, German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Closures for Steam-Drums, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of my invention is a sliding closure for steam drums.

According to this invention the lower half of the edge of the drum and the upper half of the edge of the closure are each provided with a channeled rim, in such manner that when the cover is closed the rim of the drum takes over the adjacent edge of the closure, ,and vice versa the rim of the cover takes over the adjacent edge of the drum. I An annular groove of the drum rim at the same time accommodates, in well-known manner, packing material, which after closing of the slide, is rendered effective by the introduction of a pressure agent. In this manner the closure can be easily and rapidly opened, that is, the slide can be readily raised and lowered, in so far as the packing (which is rendered inactive by running off the pressure agent and only expanded after sinking of the slide) is in no wise an obstruction to the ready upward or downward motion of the slide. By this means the danger of the joint leaking is obviated and the packing at the same time saved from undue wear and tear.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 a section on the line A -B of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a plan, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, drawn to a larger scale illustrating the arrangement of the packing. Figs. 5-7 are sectional views illustrating other methods of packing the joints. t

The cover 1 of the drum 2 constitutesa slide. It is suspended by chains ,5, passing over pulleys 3 of a winding shaft 4, so that by rotation of the shaft in one direction or the other, it can be raised or lowered, lugs 6 on the slide running between guide-rails 7. For the purpose of facilitating raising and lowering of the cover a counterweight 8 is hung upon the chains 5. The device for moving the cover, however, like the packing,

is not novel and forms no part of the present invention.

On the bottom half of the edge of the drum 2 there is a channeled rim 9, and on the upper half of the edge of the slide 1 there is a channeled rim 10 provided, in such manner that when the slide is dropped the'lower rim 9 of the drum takes over the adjacent edge of the slide, while the upper rim 10 of the slide takes over the adjacent edge of the drum, as is seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

For the purpose of locking the slide in the closed position, wedges 18 may be inserted into apertures 19 in the rails 7.

sure of at most 9 atmospheres.

The gasket 11 employed for packing the joint is located in well-known manner in an annular groove 12, which communicates with a pipe 14, conducting to a pump 13. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 14, the pressure agent (gas, air, liquid) flows to a tubular thin metallic diaphragm l7, which expands on introduction of the pressure agent and thus forces the gasket against the face of the slide. To insure a thoroughly tight joint, the pressure in the diaphragm need only be slightly higher than that in the steam drum. Since the diaphragmwhich may consist of mm. copperonly slightly alters its shape, its durability is insured, the more so, as it is capable of withstanding a pressure of 40 atmospheres without fracturing, whereas actually it has only to withstand a pres- In order for certain purposes to enable automatic packing, the diaphragm might be filled with ether, in well-known manner; immediately the latter becomes Warm, expansion occurs and a tight joint is made automatically.

The device is operated as follows :By means of the hand chain 15 the cover is lowered, the wedges 18 inserted and the pressure agent forced into the diaphragm by means of the little pump 13, until the pressuregage on the latter indicates 1 atmosphere more pressure than the workingpressure in the steam drum. Since the diaphragm scarcely holds 1 liter of liquid, the joint is made tight after a few strokes of the pump. Should, owing to the heat, over-pressure occur in the diaphragm, a small safety valve will enable escape automatically. In order to diminish the over-pressure as far as possible, a heavy oil with a high boiling point, might, for instance, be used, no appreciable expense being involved, as the same oil can be used repeatedly. When the cover is to be opened, the pressure in the steam drum must be diminished to 1 atmosphere and the pressure in the diaphragm then decreased until the packing no longer makes a tight joint, that is, allows steam to pass. Hereupon the entire pressure in the drum should be allowed to escape, and the cover can be then lifted. For low pressures the packing can be effected without the diaphragm, as shown in Figs. 5-7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1. A steam drum having a grooved rim' on the under portion of the edge and a. flange upon the upper portion of said edge, a sliding cover closing the end of the drum and having a grooved rim on the upper portion of the edge, the low'er portion of said sliding cover entering the said grooved rim on the drum and the upper or flanged portion of the edge of the drum entering the said grooved rim on the sliding cover, a gasket for closing the joint, and means for exerting a pressure on said gasket independent of the pressure in the drum, substantially as described.

2. A steam drum having a grooved rim on the under portion of the edge and a flange upon the upper portion of said edge, a sliding cover closing the end of the drum and having a grooved'rirn on the upper portion of the edge, the lower edge of said sliding cover entering the said grooved rim on the under portion of the drum and the upper or flanged portion of the edge of the drum entering the said grooved rim on the upper portion of the edge .of the said sliding cover, a gasket for packing the joint and a diaphragm in engagement with said gasket, means for 10 exerting pressure independentot the pressure in the drum for expanding said diaphragm against said gasket, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this ninth day of January 1907 in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRIEDRICH SEEBECK.

Witnesses L. GABRELS, H. RAHUsEN. 

